Variance In Support Research Articles

Heterosexist system justification: Identity and ideology explain variability in sexual minorities’ opposition to homophobia and support for LGBTQ+ rights

We hypothesized that because politically conservative ideology legitimizes the status quo—including heteronormative institutions and arrangements—it should be negatively associated with in-group identification, opposition to homophobia, and support for LGBTQ+ rights among sexual minorities. These hypotheses, which were derived from system justification theory, were assessed in large US samples of sexual minority respondents. In Study 1 (N = 4,530) and Study 2 (N = 1,107), we observed that more conservative sexual minorities expressed weaker sexual identification, and, relatedly, less support for same-sex marriage and adoption and other rights and privileges, as well as less participation in collective action in favor of LGBTQ+ rights. In Study 3 (N = 446), heterosexist system justification was associated with decreased sexual identification and support for LGBTQ+ rights. In all studies, identity and ideology accounted for unique variance in support for vs. opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. Implications for the politics of sexual identity and collective action among disadvantaged groups are discussed.

Factors Assessing Science’s Self-Presentation model and their effect on conservatives’ and liberals’ support for funding science

A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of responses to 13 questions from a 2022 national probability sample of 1,154 US adults supported the existence of five factors that we argue assess perceptions of Factors Assessing Science's Self-Presentation (FASS). These factors also predict support for increasing federal funding of science and, separately, supporting federal funding of basic research. Each of the factors reflects perceptions of a key facet of scientists' self-presentation, science/scientists' adherence to professed norms, or science's benefits: specifically, that scientists are Credible, Prudent, and Unbiased and that science is Self-Correcting and Beneficial. The FASS model explained 40.6% of the variance in support for increasing federal funding for science and 33.7% in support for basic research. For both dependent variables, conservatives were less likely to be supportive when they perceived that science/scientists fail to overcome biases. The interactions between political ideology and both Prudence and Beneficial, however, were significant only when predicting Basic Research support. In that case, there were no differences between conservatives and liberals when perceptions of benefit were low, but when high, liberals' perception of benefit had a stronger association with support for funding than conservatives'. Among those perceiving that scientists lack prudence, liberals were more likely to support funding basic research than conservatives, but the difference disappeared when perceptions of prudence were very high. The factors could serve as across-time indicators of the public's assessment of the state of science.

Factors that Parents in South Africa Consider in Support of their Children’s Continuous Use of Online Learning

One of the lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic is the need for technology to connect and communicate. Schools learnt to use technology as tools of teaching and learning, as well as connecting with parents. Such gains need not be discarded now that the pandemic has subsided. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that parents in South Africa consider significant in allowing their children to continue using online learning. The extended expectation-confirmation model, with eight constructs, was used to explain this phenomenon using a sample of 358 participating parents. The model was analysed using partial least squares structural equation modeling, while SmartPLS3 was employed in the analysis of the data. The results showed that the factors that parents in South Africa consider significant in allowing their children to continue using online learning were statistically significant. The seven factors (constructs) identified in the model explained 74.6% of the variance in support of continuous use of online learning. This was an overwhelming support for continuance to use online learning by their children, based on its benefits. This work contributed to the body of knowledge by developing a model for predicting the continued use of educational technologies (online learning), especially in developing countries. One of the shortcomings of the study is that it only included parents of learners in one district of South Africa. As a result, generalising the findings to other high schools elsewhere should be done with caution.

The role of conspiracy mindset in reducing support for child vaccination for COVID-19 in the United States.

We have previously proposed and tested a model that predicts reluctance to vaccinate against COVID-19 in the US from embrace of a conspiracy mindset that distrusts the federal health agencies of the US government and regards their intentions as malevolent. In this study, we tested the model's ability to predict adult support for COVID vaccination of children ages 5-11 after the vaccine was approved for this age group. Relying on a national panel that was established in April 2021 (N = 1941) and followed until March of 2022, we examined the relation between conspiratorial thinking measured at baseline and belief in misinformation and conspiracies about COVID vaccines, trust in various health authorities, perceived risk of COVID to children, and belief in conspiracy theories about the pandemic's origin and impact. In addition, we tested a structural equation model (SEM) in which conspiracy mindset predicted adult support for childhood vaccination for COVID in January and March of 2022 as well as the adults own vaccination status and their willingness to recommend vaccinating children against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). The model accounted for 76% of the variance in support for childhood vaccination for COVID-19; the relation between the mindset and support for vaccination was entirely mediated by baseline assessments of misinformation, trust, risk, and acceptance of pandemic conspiracy theories. The SEM replicated the prior test of the model, indicating that a conspiracy mindset present among at least 17% of the panel underlies their resistance to vaccinate both themselves and children. Efforts to counteract the mindset will likely require the intervention of trusted spokespersons who can overcome the skepticism inherent in conspiratorial thinking about the government and its health-related agencies' recommendations for a particular vaccine.

Social acceptance of policy instrument design during times of crisis

Social acceptance of policy instrument design during times of crisis

Assessing key performance indicators of corporate social responsibility initiatives in sport

ABSTRACT Research question This paper evaluates factors impacting corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns’ key performance indicators (KPIs) by extending the sport sustainability campaign evaluation model (SSCEM) with three key variables: ascription of responsibility, fit between the team/sustainability initiatives, and receptivity to messaging from the team. Research methods We collected data from a US national sample using a Qualtrics panel. The specific population of interest for this part of the project was people who were able to identify a professional or college sport team local to their geographical area (N = 205), which meets the SEM sample size requirements with only 11 items in the model. Results and findings This study found that fit, ascription, and attachment to the team explained 43.0% of the variance in receptivity. Ascription and receptivity explained 64.9% of the variance of sustainability intentions. The entire model explained 68.4% of the variance in support for green corporate partners. Future research can extend the SSCEM by adding these concepts, explaining additional variance, and assessing actual receptivity to team messaging about sustainability. Sport practitioners can use this model to show green corporate partners the impact of messaging by the team on corporate partner sales and show increased fan sustainability intentions.

Anthropomorphising nature in times of crisis: A serial mediation model from connectedness to nature via anthropomorphism on support for COVID-19 travel restrictions

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread travel restrictions to reduce the spread of the virus. It is therefore necessary to understand factors that lead to support for these imposed travel restrictions. Given the reduced environmental impact (e.g., reduced pollution) resulting from travel restrictions, these restrictions can be viewed through a pro-environmental lens. This study aimed to examine the influence of the well-supported predictor of pro-environmental behaviour, connectedness to nature, on support for COVID-19 travel restrictions. To understand why connectedness to nature may predict support for travel restrictions, mediators of this relationship were examined. Anthropomorphism of nature is reasoned to accompany connectedness to nature, and can involve anthropomorphism in various forms (i.e., generalised, and context-specific anthropomorphism). This study (N=270) examined a mediation model whereby anthropomorphism of nature (general) and anthropomorphism of nature in COVID-19 (context-specific) were serial mediators of the relationship between connectedness to nature and support for travel restrictions. Individual pathways of the model were significant, as were the indirect effects, providing support for the serial mediation model, with these predictors accounting for 13% of the variance in support for COVID-19 travel restrictions. Implications of this research are discussed and include promotion of connectedness to nature as well as considering anthropomorphic message framing.

Who supports redistribution? Replicating and refining effects of compassion, malicious envy, and self-interest

Abstract Debate over wealth redistribution plays a prominent role in society, but the causes of differences in support for redistribution remain contested. A recent three-person two-situation model suggests these differences are shaped by evolved motivational systems of self-interest, compassion, and dispositional envy. We conducted a close replication testing this prediction, all subjects were British, recruited from an online subject pool. Study 1 (N = 206) confirmed the roles of self-interest (β = 0.20) and compassion for others (β = 0.37), as well as a predicted null effect of procedural fairness. Dispositional envy was non-significant (β = 0.06). In study 2 (N = 304), we tested whether it was better to conceptualize envy as being two separate emotions, benign envy and malicious envy. A significant effect of malicious envy was found (β = 0.13) and no significant effect of benign envy (β = −0.06). Study 3 (N = 501) closely replicated this improved model, confirming significant effects of compassion (β = 0.40), self-interest (β = 0.21), and malicious envy (β = 0.15), accounting for one third of variance in support for redistribution. These results support the role of evolved motivational systems to explain and improve important aspects of contemporary economic redistribution.

Application of social ecological model to Taiwanese end-of-life communication and healthcare planning

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2><h3>Background</h3> Cultural and social backgrounds shape how people regard health, illness and death, and also play a significant role in end-of-life (EOL) decision-making in the face of uncertainty and distress. EOL communication and planning can be complex in a society where families play an important role in decision-making for EOL care in Taiwan. <h3>Aim</h3> This study aimed to identify the significance of cultural, community, interpersonal and individual determinants of EOL communication and healthcare planning. <h3>Methods</h3> A social ecological model was applied to underpin the study. A random sample of 2000 adults aged 20 years or above was selected from the electoral roll in a metropolitan area in southern Taiwan. Adults were told that if they did not wish to participate in the study, they could either return a non-participation form or not complete the questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to determine the significance of different societal levels of factors on EOL communication and healthcare planning. <h3>Findings</h3> Four hundred and seventy-four valid questionnaires were returned. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that the models of modified Measures of Public Preferences (<i>p</i> < .0001) were significant, with 22.7% of variance in facilitation, 81.9% of variance in content and 22.9% of variance in support being explained by variables at cultural, community, interpersonal and intrapersonal levels. The model of Advance Directives Attitude Survey (<i>p</i> < .0001) was significant with 25.6% of variance being explained by variables at cultural, community, interpersonal and intrapersonal levels. <h3>Discussion</h3> This study offers empirical evidence embedded within a social ecological perspective of the significance of cultural, social and contextual factors on individuals' preferences for EOL communication and healthcare planning. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Such information is important to enable health professionals to prepare individuals and their families for dealing with challenges related to EOL communication and healthcare.

Complementing theories to explain emotional solidarity

The purpose of this paper is to test the effect of residents’ attitudes concerning tourism development on support for future tourism development, and ultimately whether such a relationship explains a sense of solidarity with tourists. To do this, a theoretical model was developed and tested based on the social exchange theory and affect theory of exchange. Residents of Antalya, Turkey (N = 660) comprised the sample from which data were collected. Structural equation modelling results demonstrated that residents' attitudes explained 69% of the variance in support for future tourism development, and in turn, this support explained between 25% and 80% of the variance in factors comprising residents’ emotional solidarity with tourists. Findings provide support for the complementary use of the two theories. To round out the paper, implications, limitations and future research are offered.

Cognitive underpinnings of nationalistic ideology in the context of Brexit

Nationalistic identities often play an influential role in citizens' voting behavior and political engagement. Nationalistic ideologies tend to have firm categories and rules for what belongs to and represents the national culture. In a sample of 332 UK citizens, we tested whether strict categorization of stimuli and rules in objective cognitive tasks would be evident in strongly nationalistic individuals. Using voting behavior and attitudes from the United Kingdom's 2016 EU referendum, we found that a flexible representation of national identity and culture was linked to cognitive flexibility in the ideologically neutral Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Remote Associates Test, and to self-reported flexibility under uncertainty. Path analysis revealed that subjective and objective cognitive inflexibility predicted heightened authoritarianism, nationalism, conservatism, and system justification, and these in turn were predictive of support for Brexit and opposition to immigration, the European Union, and free movement of labor. This model accounted for 47.6% of the variance in support for Brexit. Path analysis models were also predictive of participants' sense of personal attachment to the United Kingdom, signifying that individual differences in cognitive flexibility may contribute toward ideological thinking styles that shape both nationalistic attitudes and personal sense of nationalistic identity. These findings further suggest that emotionally neutral "cold" cognitive information processing-and not just "hot" emotional cognition-may play a key role in ideological behavior and identity.

Partisan Predispositions and Public Support for Making It Easier to Vote

Public opinion on high-visibility election rules can be expected to reflect elite-level party divisions. We explain how partisanship affects support for, and opposition to, low-visibility convenience voting reforms. We find state-level factors such as quality of polling-place voting and party polarization explain some variance in support. However, individual-level factors are paramount. Attitudes about election reforms are strongly conditioned by partisan predispositions, with Democrats more supportive and Republicans more opposed. In addition, we find younger people, those with lower incomes, nonvoters, and people with disabilities were more likely to support proposals that might make voting easier. Although this cannot demonstrate that increased convenience voting would alter the composition of the electorate, it shows that, above and beyond partisanship, people who faced greater barriers to voting were most supportive of making voting easier. However, the dominant role of partisan predispositions suggests limits to rules changes that might make voting easier.

Residents and urban greenways: Modeling support for the Atlanta BeltLine

Urban greenways have received significant attention due to their many publicized benefits and costs that make them contentious recreational developments. Most prior studies have approached urban greenways from a demand-side perspective solely focused on their users. This study adds to the literature by taking a supply-side approach to assessing resident attitudes towards greenways and using these attitudes to predict support for greenways. Building off of Weber’s theory of formal and substantive rationality and social exchange theory, resident support for the Atlanta BeltLine is posited to be a function of different extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Extrinsically, it is hypothesized support for the BeltLine is a function of residents’ frequency of use and their perceptions of how the greenway trail generates economic benefits within their neighborhood. Intrinsically, it is hypothesized resident support for the BeltLine is a function of how the BeltLine psychologically, socially, and politically empowers or disempowers residents. To test these hypotheses, surveys were distributed across three neighborhoods adjacent to portions of the Atlanta BeltLine using door-to-door systematic census-guided random sampling. The 568 usable surveys (60% response rate) were entered into SPSS’ AMOS and used to assess both the construct validity and predictive validity of the measures. The model explained 62% of the variance in support for the Atlanta BeltLine with four of the five antecedents being significant. Implications suggest that support for greenways is more than just a function of frequency of use, but a complicated mix of use and perceptions of the trail’s economic benefits and empowerment.

Is sociopolitical egalitarianism related to bodily and facial formidability in men?

Social bargaining models predict that men should calibrate their egalitarian attitudes to their formidability and/or attractiveness. A simple social bargaining model predicts a direct negative association between formidability/attractiveness and egalitarianism, whereas a more complex model predicts an association moderated by wealth. Our study tested both models with 171 men, using two sociopolitical egalitarianism measures: social dominance orientation and support for redistribution. Predictors included bodily formidability and attractiveness and four facial measures (attractiveness, dominance, masculinity, and width-to-height ratio). We also controlled for time spent lifting weights, and experimentally manipulated self-perceived formidability in an attempt to influence egalitarianism. Both the simple and complex social bargaining models received partial support: sociopolitical egalitarianism was negatively related to bodily formidability, but unrelated to other measures of bodily/facial formidability/attractiveness; and a formidability-wealth interaction did predict variance in support for redistribution, but the nature of this interaction differed somewhat from that reported in previous research. Results of the experimental manipulation suggested that egalitarianism is unaffected by self-perceived formidability in the immediate short-term. In sum, results provided some support for both the simple and complex social bargaining models, but suggested that further research is needed to explain why male formidability/attractiveness and egalitarianism are so often negatively related.

Caregivers had neighbourhood support but perceived it unsatisfactory and worsened: England Community Life Survey, 2012\u20132014

There has been limited research studying neighbourhood support for caregivers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the support from neighbourhoods between both caregivers and non-caregivers in a country-wide and population-based setting. Data were retrieved from England Community Life Survey, 2012–2014, a new annual household survey conducted by face-to-face interview since 2012, with a representative sample size of 5–6000 adult (aged 16 years and over) resident per year in England. Chi-square test and logistic regression modelling were performed to examine the variance in support from and perception toward neighbourhoods between caregivers and non-caregivers. Of 15,320 study participants, 2315 (16.0%) had a caring responsibility. There was not much variance in feeling belonging, comfortably asking neighbours to keep keys, comfortably asking neighbours to mind children, believing neighbours pulling together and trusting people in the neighbourhood between caregivers and non-caregivers. However, caregivers seemed to be more likely to chat to neighbours (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.69–0.87, P < 0.001) and comfortably ask neighbours to help collect grocery (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81–0.98, P = 0.023). In addition, caregivers tended to perceive their neighbourhoods unsatisfactory (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05–1.32, P = 0.007) and worsened in the last 2 years (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.22–1.51, P < 0.001). For future research, a longitudinal neighbourhood monitoring surveillance for all people would be suggested. For practice and policy, environmental health and nursing programs might need to extend education trainings and interventions to cover all neighbourhoods at different time points that can lessen both disease and caregiving burden and therefore optimize health and quality of life.

2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil: The Effects of Neutrality of Intent and Economic Welfare on Support Intentions

ABSTRACTThis research aims to describe (1) the impacts of neutrality of intent and economic welfare on expectations of positive legacies, and (2) the impacts of expected positive legacies on support for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This study drew on social exchange, liberal egalitarianism, and welfare economic theories. Participants (n = 254) were randomly assigned to 1 out of 4 possible treatments, where neutrality of intent in spending public money and likelihood of economic welfare were manipulated. Then, they completed a questionnaire expressing perceptions of positive legacies and support for the 2014 World Cup. Findings showed significant main effects for neutrality of intent, but non-significant main effects for economic welfare. Neutrality of intent increased positive expectations of economic, tourism, and cultural legacies, which in turn explained significant variance in support for the event.

Expectation Congruency and Psychosocial Support in Formal Agriculture Teacher Mentoring Relationships

Educational leaders have widely implemented mentoring and induction programs to support beginning teachers as they enter the profession. A variety of contextual factors within the mentoring dyad and program may impact the mentoring relationship and subsequent support received by the beginning teacher. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship among mentoring Expectation Congruency, Interaction, and Psychosocial Support received by agriculture teachers participating in Beginning Teacher Mentor/Induction program. Researchers collected mentoring relationship data from 83 first and second year agriculture teachers participating in a statemandated mentoring and induction program, with a 95.35% response rate. We used a hierarchical multivariate linear regression to determine the proportion of unique variance in Psychosocial Support attributable to differences in Expectation Congruency, Interaction time, and covariates identified through a review of literature. Researchers concluded differences in Expectation Congruency and Perceived Similarity each explained a large (d &gt;1.0) proportion of variance in Support received by beginning teachers in the Acceptance, Counseling, Friendship, and Role Model functions. Variation in interaction time did not explain significant proportions of variance in support received for any psychosocial support constructs.

Scale matters: Variation in perceptions of shale gas development across national, state, and local levels

We explore the extent to which public perceptions of shale gas development vary across three survey samples—one each at: (1) national (USA), (2) state (NY and PA), and (3) regional levels (ten counties in the Marcellus Shale). We compare results from a survey of Marcellus Shale region residents (n=1202) to those from a similar survey of a US sample (n=1625), with an oversampling of residents from NY and PA (n=516). A key difference between the local sample and the other two samples is that respondents’ beliefs about impacts of development explain much more variance in support for/opposition to development in the local sample. The beliefs about development that associate most closely with support/opposition vary across scale as well. Nevertheless, a few core values are important for predicting support/opposition across all samples. These results suggest a threshold effect in that local perceptions of shale gas development do not seem to extend far beyond the counties immediately affected by development. Construal level theory and social representations theory help explain why perceptions at the local level may differ from the regional and national levels. We consider implications for communication and social science research on energy development broadly.

Cartographies of Stalin: Place, Scale, and Reputational Politics

In this article we explore the spatial variation of support for former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in his home country, Georgia. This research contributes to the literature on reputational politics by highlighting the role of spatial, rather than only social, factors in the construction of public opinion about Stalin. We illustrate how geographic factors impact Georgians' perceptions of the Soviet dictator by examining various aspects of place at various scales—including distance to Gori, Stalin's birthplace, the history of urbanization, and economic and political indices. To this end we map attitudes toward the Soviet dictator and use a multilevel spatial regression technique to explain variance in support for Stalin across forty-seven districts of Georgia. This enables us to explore the impact of place on people's attitudes by examining (1) whether there are local and regional hotspots of Stalin admiration and, if so, (2) what the contextual explanations of these attitudes are.

Beliefs about Ecological Impacts Predict Deer Acceptance Capacity and Hunting Support

Ecological impacts of deer overbrowsing often lead resource managers to recommend deer control through hunting, which may be strongly opposed by local residents. Adaptive impact management argues that understanding wildlife impacts of concern to the public can improve wildlife management. However, research on public wildlife acceptance capacity for deer, and on support for hunting, has emphasized concerns about household impacts and deer well-being, general environmental beliefs and attitudes, and beliefs about consequences of hunting, but not public concerns about deer ecological impacts. Our survey of neighbors of urban wetlands shows that beliefs about deer ecological impacts are statistically significant predictors of deer acceptance capacity and of support for hunting, controlling for other factors. Including ecological-impact beliefs adds substantially to the explained variance in deer acceptance capacity, and slightly to the explained variance in support for hunting.